Zach Crabtree joined the Boilermakers after spending the 2025 campaign as the offensive line coach at Fresno State.
Under Crabtree’s tutelage, Jacob Spomer became a Group of Five All-American (HERO Sports) and First Team All-Mountain West offensive lineman. According to Pro Football Focus, Spomer was the highest rated center overall in the Mountain West and had the highest pass blocking rating among Mountain West centers as well.
Crabtree arrived at Fresno State from USC, where he was with the Trojans for three years. Prior to the 2024 season, he was named assistant offensive line coach under offensive coordinator Josh Henson. Crabtree spent the 2023 and 2022 seasons as a graduate assistant.
In 2021, Crabtree mentored the offensive line as an analyst at Oklahoma State. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Baylor (2019-20), working with the offensive line.
To close out his playing career, Crabtree played for the Los Angeles Chargers from 2017-18 but had to retire due to a knee injury.
Crabtree had a stellar collegiate career as an offensive lineman at Oklahoma State for five seasons (2013-17), which included playing for Henson and starting 46 games at right tackle. As a senior in 2017, he earned First Team All-Big 12 (Coaches) and Second Team All-Big 12 (AP) honors. Crabtree was also honored by the Oklahoma State coaching staff with the Vernon Grant Award twice throughout his career, an accolade recognizing outstanding leadership, spirit and enthusiasm. As a junior in 2016, he made the All-Big 12 Second Team (Coaches). Off the field, he landed on the Big 12 All-Academic Second Team in 2014.
Crabtree received his bachelor’s degree in sports management from Oklahoma State in 2017. He prepped at Mansfield High School in Mansfield, Texas.